The Ducati Xerox team celebrates the victory at Silverstone thanks to Troy Bayliss' gritty run through the rain. - Silverstone

Troy Bayliss in the Ducati garage, one would assume before losing part of his right little finger in a nasty crash - Donington

Troy Bayliss looks ready for the start of the 2008 World Superbike season, posting the fastest lap at the final day of testing in Qatar.

It was a good weekend for reigning champion Troy Bayliss who took both Superpole and Race 1 but was denied the double when rain cancelled Race 2. - Silverstone

Troy Bayliss claimed the Superpole - Phillip Island

Troy Bayliss and James Toseland did not have the Donington results they wanted - Donington

Troy Bayliss, who had won Superpole, looked good until he made mistakes due to an imperfect race set-up, but still scored in both races only two weeks after having his throttle hand little finger amputated. - Valencia

Bayliss was back to his usual timechart-topping self during a recent two-day test at Valencia.

Ducati Xerox's Troy Bayliss backed up his superpole at Vallelunga with a 1-2 finish. - Vallelunga

Biaggi's first test on the Alstare Suzuki WSB bike.

Biaggi's first test on the Alstare Suzuki WSB bike.

Biaggi leads Corser in the action at Misano.

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Max Biaggi leads the pack at Brno. The Emperor would go on to author a 2-1 byline.

Biaggi (3) has seen his position in the championship flag from second to fourth - Misano

It was all about Toseland and Biaggi at Brno, with the duo now 1-2 in the championship as well.

Max Biaggi was able to notch a 1-2 finish during the season opener - Qatar

Max Biaggi snagged a podium on Race 2, but would have taken the title if he'd have gotten Haga's result - Magny Cours

Biaggi fights with Corser, the Italian finished the season well ahead of the man he replaced at Suzuki - Magny Cours

Biaggi found the podium in Race 2 but crashed out of a podium in Race 1 - Misano

Two was Biaggi's number at Valencia - He scored a second place finish in the second race and is second in the WSB points standings with 138. - Valencia

Mad Max survived a near highside that sent the Emperor into the air, but somehow was able to land back on the bike. He did hurt his right leg as he hit the footpeg with such force that the peg was broken. - Silverstone

The action gets underway at The Island - Phillip Island

Biaggi returned the favor to Haga this week, swooping past the Yamaha Motor Italia rider on the last lap of Race 2 to finish second behind Toseland. - Valencia

At the same time as the SBK season finale, former World Superbike compeitor Norick Abe died in a traffic accident in Japan at the age of 32.

Nitro Nori was let down by his R1 in Race 2 - Assen

Two Alstare Corona Suzukis were atop the Race 1 podium - Brno

Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse rider Regis Laconi enjoyed two consistent rides at Donington with a seventh-place finish in Race 1 and a sixth-fastest time in Race 2. - Donington

Regis Laconi showed more of the new ZX-10R's potential on Day 2 of the Phillip Island test, shaving a full second off of his Day 1 time.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Roberto Rolfo had a day of mixed results, retiring from Race 1 with a burst tire but finishing fifth in Race 2 after battling from ninth on the grid. - Vallelunga

Rolfo hasn't seen the same grand success of his points-leading teammate, Toseland - Assen

Ten Kate Honda's Roberto Rolfo finished in fourth place and picked up 13 points to climb to eighth place in the championship standings. - Silverstone

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Roberto Rolfo was the first Honda across the finish line in Race 2 with a seventh-place finish.

Roberto Rolfo ran with the leaders in Race 1 until tire problems dropped him out of contention. - Monza

Somebody needs to remind Ruben Xaus that as a privateer he's not supposed to be scoring podium finishes - Assen

Noriyuki Haga, Troy Bayliss, and Troy Corser enjoy their moment atop the podium after a challenging day of racing at Silverstone that saw Race 2 get cancelled because of inclement weather. - Silverstone

Racers jockey for position heading into Turn 1 at a rain-soaked Silverstone. - Silverstone

The Hannspree Ten Kate garage celebrates a SBK title - Magny Cours

Troy Bayliss took the double at Misano.

James Toseland won the first race in front of the homegrown British crowd but a mechanical problem kept him from duplicating the feat in Race 2.

Toseland is on pace to reclaim the title he held in 2004 - Phillip Island

James Toseland is on pace to take the 2007 title with ease - Assen

James Toseland celebrates his victory at Brno.

JT celebrates his points lead and solid showing at The Island - Phillip Island

Did you know Tosleand is from merry old England? That's what the St. George's Cross flag means you bleedin' ignoramous! - Phillip Island

Toseland survived a Turn 1 gravel excursion to take his title - Magny Cours

Toseland crosses the finish in sixth, good enough for a world championship - Magny Cours

Number 52 bids World Superbike farewell with the 2007 title. Now the Brit will have his 2008 sites set on MotoGP - Magny Cours

Toseland lost ground to Bayliss with his 4-6 byline, but King James still retains a 21-point lead in the championship - Misano

Toseland's crew made the right adjustments to the vibrations he experienced in Race 1 as he was able to capture the victory in Race 2 and retain the overall WSB point standings lead with 151. - Valencia

Championship points leader James Toseland had a rough day. He crashed in Lap 3, restarted in 18th place with a banged-up bike, but clawed his way back to an eigth place finish, earning him valuable points. - Silverstone

Toseland's points lead took a big hit, but he is still five points up on Biaggi - Donington

King James had to deal with vibrations in his rear tire during Race 1 that prevented him from landing on the podium. - Valencia

Championship points leader James Tosesland had a rough go of it at Vallelunga. Corser almost took him out in the first lap of Race 1 when he crashed, and then Toseland himself went down in Race 2. - Vallelunga

JT takes a championship victory lap - Magny Cours

Toseland leads Biaggi at Brno.

Number 52 may be wearing number 1 next year, provided he doesn't make the jump into MotoGP - Brno